Hops (Humulus lupulus)

Main Facts about Hops

A prickly vine with scaly, green, downward pointing fruit and 3-5 lobed leaves. The female flowers of the hop plant are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine.

Using Hops

Tea made from its fruit is used as a calming sedative to soothe tension,
nerves, restlessness, sleep problems, anxiety, cramps, spasms, coughs,
inflammation, boils, rheumatism. Calming effect similar to valerian.
Hop flowers are much used as an infusion or can also be used to stuff pillows to sleep better. The fruit is also applied externally as a poultice to ulcers, boils, painful swellings etc, it is said to remedy painful tumours. Licorice root and hops flowers have often been used throughout history to treat hormone imbalances and just about every female problem known, giving women a sense of well being and control.

Caution!

Be careful when handling plant as resin and fine hairs can irritate skin.

Cooking with Hops

Young leaves can be eaten in salads. A tea is made from the leaves and cones. It has a gentle calming effect. The dried flowering heads of female plants are used as a flavouring and preservative in beer.